Norwich City 1 Bristol City 2 (half time)

As expected, Bristol City were boosted by the return of leading scorer Nicky Maynard. Fully recovered from the dead leg which ruled him out of games against Charlton and Barnsley, the nine-goal striker replaced Slovakian import Peter Styvar, who was relegated to the bench.

Canaries boss Bryan Gunn made just one change from the side which held Championship front-runners Wolves to a 3-3 draw at Molineux in midweek, recalling left winger Wes Hoolahan to replace injured England Under-21 international Ryan Bertrand.

Both sides entered the game emboldened by good form, Norwich boasting a four-match unbeaten run and City having gone six Championship games without deefeat.

In confident mood following a record of five wins in their last six outings, the visitors started as though they meant business, forcing Norwich back and creating the better of the early openings.

Dele Adebola tested goalkeeper David Marshall with a looping effort, while Nicky Maynard narrowly failed to apply a finishing touch to Michael McIndoe's left-wing cross and Louis Carey headed wide from a corner.

Fellow centre-back Liam Fontaine came even closer to breaking the deadlock, meeting McIndoe's out-swinging corner with a firm header which beat Marshall and came back off the cross bar.

It came as little surprise when City took the lead on 14 minutes. McIndoe's lofted pass set Maynard free in the right channel and his drag back presented Skuse with a gilt-edged opportunity to side-foot his first goal in almost three years.

By contrast, the Canaries were restricted to half-chances, Hoolahan shooting wide from range and former Bristol Rovers striker Jamie Cureton losing control at the crucial moment and allowing Adriano Basso to save at his feet.

But City continued to play the more incisive football and Gavin Williams sent a full-blooded drive inches over the bar before McIndoe stung Marshall's hands with a rasping shot from the edge of the penalty area.

When Norwich equalised, their goal came against the run of play. Sammy Clingan directed a free kick towards the far post, Carl Cort's header deflected off an upright and centre-back Grounds was perfectly placed to turn the loose ball into an unprotected net.

Bristol City should have scored their second within a minute, Skuse opening up the home defence with a cross from the right which Maynard somehow contrived to head wide of a gaping target from six yards.

City suffered a further setback on the half-hour mark, the impressive Skuse succumbing to injury and being replaced by Northern Ireland international Ivan Sproule.

The action was fast and furious and chances continued to materialise at both ends, Darel Russell's goal-bound shot being blocked by Jamie McAllister and Adebola then testing Marshall with a flicked header.

Adebola was at the heart of City's best moments and the big striker again opened up Norwich's back-pedaling defence when surging past Peter Drury, onlky for his cross-cum-shot from a narrow angle to fly across the face of goal and elude Maynard's out-stretched boot by a matter of inches.

No matter. City regained their lead on the stroke of half-time. Marshall fluffed an attempted clearance, kicking the ball straight at Adebola, who controlled and then bore down on goal.

He was just about to shoot when his legs were taken by Norwich skipper Doherty, who was promptly shown a red card by referee Andy D'Urso.

Up stepped Bradley Orr to send Marshall the wrong way from the penalty spot, in the process restoring City's advantage and registering his first goal of the season.

Norwich (4-4-2): Marshall; Otsemobor, Doherty, Grounds, Drury; Croft, Clingan, Russell, Hoolahan; Cureton, Cort.

Bristol City (4-4-2): Basso; Orr, Carey, Fontaine, McAllister; Williams, Skuse (sub Sproule, 31), Johnson, McIndoe; Maynard, Adebola.

Referee: Andy D’Urso (Essex)